Do you think it is best to just play soccer or is it better to play multiple sports with the assumption for this discussion that soccer is the main sport. Do you remember the Bo Jackson commercials where he played all the sports and advocated cross training. However, most soccer clubs only advocated playing soccer full time and frown on kids playing other sports.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Cross Train or Just Play Soccer?
Collapse
X
-
UnregisteredTags: None
- Quote
-
Unregistered
Ability
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostDo you think it is best to just play soccer or is it better to play multiple sports with the assumption for this discussion that soccer is the main sport. Do you remember the Bo Jackson commercials where he played all the sports and advocated cross training. However, most soccer clubs only advocated playing soccer full time and frown on kids playing other sports.
- Quote
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostDo you think it is best to just play soccer or is it better to play multiple sports with the assumption for this discussion that soccer is the main sport. Do you remember the Bo Jackson commercials where he played all the sports and advocated cross training. However, most soccer clubs only advocated playing soccer full time and frown on kids playing other sports.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostDo you think it is best to just play soccer or is it better to play multiple sports with the assumption for this discussion that soccer is the main sport. Do you remember the Bo Jackson commercials where he played all the sports and advocated cross training. However, most soccer clubs only advocated playing soccer full time and frown on kids playing other sports.
Name the last US Superstar that played multiple sports. Name the last Spanish, Brazilian, German, Swedish, English, French Superstar that crosstrained.
Well the US doesn't have a superstar (Pulisic is closest). The other ones don't.
College coaches don't advocate cross training. They go to Europe and South America and other countries to find their best players...so no they don't advocate it
Soccer is different. Goals for your child will be different. If your goal is for your child to play professionally then no cross training. If it's to play collegiately, then most train with soccer and play DA or ECNL. If it's too be good at multiple sports and say your child is a 6-sport athlete, then do it.
Just don't listen to people on here that say "well there was one kid I knew". The proven way in soccer is specializing and not playing a million games a year. Not a thing in the US.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostCross training is nice but that works with other sports. Soccer is different. Bo Jackson was a freak athlete.
Name the last US Superstar that played multiple sports. Name the last Spanish, Brazilian, German, Swedish, English, French Superstar that crosstrained.
Well the US doesn't have a superstar (Pulisic is closest). The other ones don't.
College coaches don't advocate cross training. They go to Europe and South America and other countries to find their best players...so no they don't advocate it
Soccer is different. Goals for your child will be different. If your goal is for your child to play professionally then no cross training. If it's to play collegiately, then most train with soccer and play DA or ECNL. If it's too be good at multiple sports and say your child is a 6-sport athlete, then do it.
Just don't listen to people on here that say "well there was one kid I knew". The proven way in soccer is specializing and not playing a million games a year. Not a thing in the US.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostDo you think it is best to just play soccer or is it better to play multiple sports with the assumption for this discussion that soccer is the main sport. Do you remember the Bo Jackson commercials where he played all the sports and advocated cross training. However, most soccer clubs only advocated playing soccer full time and frown on kids playing other sports.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostEver see a Spanish, Brazilian, German, Swedish, English, or French soccer player try to throw a ball? How about sink a basket? No hand-eye coordination.
What point are you trying to make?
When it comes to soccer it's better to specialize. You don't need to specialize in hand eye. Soccer benefits all other sports. Not all sports benefit soccer.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostCross training is nice but that works with other sports. Soccer is different. Bo Jackson was a freak athlete.
Name the last US Superstar that played multiple sports. Name the last Spanish, Brazilian, German, Swedish, English, French Superstar that crosstrained.
Well the US doesn't have a superstar (Pulisic is closest). The other ones don't.
College coaches don't advocate cross training. They go to Europe and South America and other countries to find their best players...so no they don't advocate it
Soccer is different. Goals for your child will be different. If your goal is for your child to play professionally then no cross training. If it's to play collegiately, then most train with soccer and play DA or ECNL. If it's too be good at multiple sports and say your child is a 6-sport athlete, then do it.
Just don't listen to people on here that say "well there was one kid I knew". The proven way in soccer is specializing and not playing a million games a year. Not a thing in the US.
Hakeem Olajuwon was the top rated goalie prospect for Nigeria.
LeBron James was offered a full ride scholarship to numerous colleges to play football, including Norte Dame. He was a high school All State/American receiver in Ohio.
John Elway was the #1 overall pick for the Yankees and Broncos.
College Football Hall of Famer Kirk Gibson was the MLB MVP and won multiple World Series.
Primetime Deion Sanders played in the Super Bowl and World Series.
NFL Pro Bowler and MLB All Star Brian Jordan.
Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers were star basketball players in college before NFL.
Jackie Robinson and Jim Thorpe. Names are legendary in multiple sports.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostAs a Yankees fan my favorite example of this is Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. He was a 2 sport star at Minnesota and was drafted by the MLB Padres, NBA Hawks, ABA Stars and NFL Vikings.
Hakeem Olajuwon was the top rated goalie prospect for Nigeria.
LeBron James was offered a full ride scholarship to numerous colleges to play football, including Norte Dame. He was a high school All State/American receiver in Ohio.
John Elway was the #1 overall pick for the Yankees and Broncos.
College Football Hall of Famer Kirk Gibson was the MLB MVP and won multiple World Series.
Primetime Deion Sanders played in the Super Bowl and World Series.
NFL Pro Bowler and MLB All Star Brian Jordan.
Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers were star basketball players in college before NFL.
Jackie Robinson and Jim Thorpe. Names are legendary in multiple sports.
Soccer. Soccer players ding dong. What soccer players. Do anyone of you read?
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostSoccer. Soccer players ding dong. What soccer players. Do anyone of you read?
Because they specialize early and can out play any American soccer player. Just look at the college rosters. If it were up to coaches they would only recruit foreigners. Not "cross trainers"
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostDo you think it is best to just play soccer or is it better to play multiple sports with the assumption for this discussion that soccer is the main sport. Do you remember the Bo Jackson commercials where he played all the sports and advocated cross training. However, most soccer clubs only advocated playing soccer full time and frown on kids playing other sports.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Soccer specialization helps with SOCCER skills. Cross training helps with other things that then enhance soccer skills. Cross training also develops other muscles and helps reduce injury risk. It also helps reduce burnout by providing variety. That said, it doesn't have to be something official or organized or certainly high level. Kids should be encouraged to do a variety of sports/activities. If time is limited then HS aged player should work with a fitness trainer who can help them improve troublesome areas and improve strength and conditioning, again lowering injury risk.
One exception: Basketball is definitely good for GK's
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostSoccer specialization helps with SOCCER skills. Cross training helps with other things that then enhance soccer skills. Cross training also develops other muscles and helps reduce injury risk. It also helps reduce burnout by providing variety. That said, it doesn't have to be something official or organized or certainly high level. Kids should be encouraged to do a variety of sports/activities. If time is limited then HS aged player should work with a fitness trainer who can help them improve troublesome areas and improve strength and conditioning, again lowering injury risk.
One exception: Basketball is definitely good for GK's
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
I have heard more than one PT say that specialized training leads to overuse injuries and that cross training provides a better core foundation for the body. Knee injuries in youth players are said be occurring with more frequency.
I am not doc or PT but the theory does make for an interesting discussion.
- Quote
Comment
-
Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostI have heard more than one PT say that specialized training leads to overuse injuries and that cross training provides a better core foundation for the body. Knee injuries in youth players are said be occurring with more frequency.
I am not doc or PT but the theory does make for an interesting discussion.
For example, if you hit your head on a wall for two hours consistently every other Saturday you might be fine and have time to recover in between. Now, go hit your head 2 hours a day every weekend (sat and sun) and several times a year do it up to 5 times in a weekend.
Seriously try it and check back with us.
- Quote
Comment
Comment